Oregon State Beavers football 2017 position battle to watch: Who plugs middle of defensive line?

Oregon State Beavers football 2017 position battle to watch: Defensive line

As Oregon State moves closer to the start of fall camp, The Oregonian/OregonLive is breaking down the Beavers' roster by highlighting the prominent battles for playing time in each position group.

Sean Meagher | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Today's position group: Defensive line

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The overall storyline: There will be battles all across the line for a position group that must improve at both stopping the run (ranked 102nd nationally with 218 yards allowed per game) and pressuring the quarterback (tied for 107th with 18 sacks). It’s a group that returns all its major contributors from last season, gets Titus Failauga back after temporarily moving to outside linebacker and welcomes highly touted junior college transfer Craig Evans. Chad Kauha’aha’a is back coaching this position group (in addition to the outside linebackers) after Gary Andersen held that responsibility last season.